Understanding the Amen Brother Break

And that was a version of a break from a track called "Amen Brother" by a band called The Winstons from about 1969.

Overview

It is possibly the most sampled drum break in history. This break has been used in all kinds of different styles of song, with a lot of hip hop. However, it has become most famous for its use in drum and bass.

The beat has been:

• Speeded up
• Chopped
• Rearranged

But it's really the sound created by the drums and the cymbals that stands out. The constant ride cymbal is the main characteristic of the break and is a key reason why it's so popular.

Breakdown of the Break

Let's slow it down and look at what makes up the break.

1. First Two Bars
   These are kind of the same and repeated:

   • The ride is constant, playing the eighth notes.
   • You have a few ghost notes on the snare that you might want to bring out.
   • The two and four are accented, but the ghost notes should be a bit quieter to fill out the groove.

2. Double Kick Feature
   There's a double kick on the three of the first bar. This feature distinguishes this break from others. Loop these two bars to get that groove feeling.

3. Bars Three and Four
   In these bars, the drummer plays around with the beat:

   • The snare is moved off the four and comes a little later.
   • This change gives it a "push" into the final bar of the phrase.

   In the third bar, the drummer hits a cymbal, don't think it's a china cymbal, on the kick of the final bar on the three and also hits the four and snare.

Practicing the Break

If you loop the second two bars, you'll have the following structure:

• Looping and practicing this break is essential for mastering it, especially for drum and bass.

Tips for Mastery

• Start slow.
• Focus on making everything sound tight.
• Pay attention to coming down in the right places.
• Work on your speed by repeating the loop until you can increase your tempo to match drum and bass speeds.

And that's the Amen Brother break by The Winstons. Happy practicing!